Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 3: Stuart Mathieson's match verdict

If the dubious goals committee do eventually decree that Javier Hernandez obtained his Villa Park match ball by default, it will only delay the inevitable that the Mexican is set to become United’s all-time number one super sub.

Chicharito is all smiles with Antonio Valencia as he clutches the coveted match ball

If the dubious goals committee do eventually decree that Javier Hernandez obtained his Villa Park match ball by default, it will only delay the inevitable that the Mexican is set to become United’s all-time number one super sub.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer currently owns the accolade with 28 goals when coming off the bench.

Of course, the Norwegian legend has a Champions League final winner and an historic four-goal sub display against Nottingham Forest on his CV.

But statistically Chicharito now has 17 – until the panel judges otherwise – to his name when appearing as a sub.

And he will no doubt eat into Solskjaer’s figure at a rapid rate. Last week United fans were asking the question where would the Reds be without Robin van Persie.

Now Chicharito is building up a case to be bracketed alongside the Dutchman as a saviour for his impact on United’s fortunes this term.

In 18 days, the 24-year-old’s eight goals in five matches have turned on its head a potentially embarrassing and damaging Old Trafford deficit against Braga, won five extra Premier League title points with a winner at Chelsea and his treble on Saturday against Aston Villa.

But goodness me, the Reds aren’t half needing these efforts from their hitmen.

The flip-side of United’s comebacks, which are full of admirable character and belief, is this season’s astonishing feature of having to plunge into despairing situations before they rally.

It is fantastically watchable entertainment and a landslide of goals has seen the Reds score 44 times since the opening day blank at Everton.

But on 10 of 17 occasions they have generously allowed opponents leads before crushing their celebrations.

In seven out of 11 league matches so far, they have gone behind and gone on to win in five of them. That’s 63 per cent in the Premier League and, at the current rate, that is another 17 league games up to May that we are going to have to enjoy or endure, depending upon how you look at this toxic mixture of gruelling and glorious entertainment.

Game-changer Chicharito was only seven and Solskjaer had not even started his Old Trafford career the last time United lost in the league at Villa Park in 1995.

Only Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan had reached High School when Fergie’s youngsters, including the Class of ’92, were infamously dismissed by Alan Hansen that August.

Paul Lambert’s young side made light of that appalling home record as they stretched a labouring Reds side who could barely muster a decent shot on target in the first half.

It was two 21-year-olds, Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann, who were doing the damage.

Belgian striker Benteke was a powerful opponent who gave Chris Smalling a severe test as the United defender attempted to cope with two matches in 72 hours after so long out with injury.

Benteke’s muscle was too much for the Londoner just before half-time as Smalling ended up in a heap on the floor having lost the strong-arm duel on the left wing.

Benteke then picked out Austrian Weimann, who was given acres of room by United’s absent defence and he smashed home. Ashley Young had been physically and verbally given a rough time by his former fans and successors on the pitch in claret and blue.

But the ineffective ex-Villain was swallowed up by the occasion and was replaced at half-time by Chicharito as Sir Alex Ferguson was forced yet again to rethink his strategy.

Before the Mexican could get involved, Weimann had bagged his second.

Once again the Reds’ defence was opened up with worrying ease and Gabriel Agbonlahor’s low cross was met by Weimann as he raced in while the Reds hesitated and demanded an offside decision to cover their embarrassment.

At that point Villa fans would have gladly foregone 40 minutes’ worth of their ticket price and called it a day.

Paul Scholes was the only player on the pitch from that ’95 defeat and he set the ball rolling when he picked out Chicharito in the 58th minute.

The striker is a genius when it comes to converting from seemingly impossible situations.

He appeared to have the ball stuck between his feet and Villa had a covering defender and keeper converging on him, but somehow he still managed to guide in beyond the pair and into the net.

It was now thrill-a-minute.

Chicharito’s contentious goal came next as he slammed a shot across goal that cannoned in off Ron Vlaar for the equaliser in the 63rd minute. Villa’s defence were panicking and United’s rearguard were anything but a tight unit as both teams went at it for a winner.

David de Gea superbly blocked Weimann’s own hat-trick effort and finally van Persie got the taste for it when he smashed the woodwork with a header and a left-foot shot in a matter of seconds.

Nevertheless he did provide the assist for the winner with a brilliant free-kick delivery and Chicharito manoeuvred himself into position to dive in and head home as Villa’s bewildered defence cracked again.

It was hectic and breathtaking and you keep asking how many more times can United stage such thrilling comebacks?

Our newspapers include the flagship Manchester Evening News - Britain's largest circulating
regional daily with up to 130,485 copies - as well as 20 local weekly titles across Greater
Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire.

Free morning newspaper, The Metro, published every weekday, is also part of our portfolio,
delivering more than 200,000 readers in Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Business Week is the region’s number one provider of business news andfeatures, targeting a bespoke business audience with 12,687 copies every Thursday.

Every month, M.E.N. Media’s print products reach 2.2 million adults, spanning from Accrington
in the north to Macclesfield in the south.